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Unformatted text preview: Motility and Chemotaxis Reading: Chapter 1. 1.2.1 1.2.2 URLs of interest: http://www micro.msb.le.ac.uk/video/motility.html http://www.rowland.harvard.edu/labs/bacteria/index.html http://molvis.sdsc.edu/atlas/morphs/flaghook/index.htm http://lecturer.ukdw.ac.id/dhira/BacterialStructure/Flagella.html Motility Types of motility A. Swimming: Flagellar B. Twitching: Pili C. Gliding Motility Swimming Flagella (sing. flagellum): is an organ of bacterial locomotion. We will talk later in detail about how cells move, for now I want you to know what it is structurally and think about how the cell must regulate it.. The flagellum is composed of three parts, Structure Filament consist of repeating protein monomers called flagellin. The filament can be made up of monomers of a single type of flagellin or of several types of flagellin. Flagellins are highly antigenic and can be used for sero typing. In addition, many phages (bacterial viruses) use the flagella as a means of attaching and entering the cell. Flagellins can spontaneously associate in solution and form helical filaments. Growth of the flagellum is at the tip, the filament is hollow and the monomers travel from the cytosol to the tip through the filament. Hook, is a short curved structure that connects the flagellar filament to the basal body. It can be made up of up of several different proteins. It appears to act as a universal joint. Basal body : small and very complex structure used to anchor the flagella and provide the motor. It is composed of 4 rings that surround a rod, which is attached to the hook....
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